Iran launches missiles as Khamenei’s son takes charge
Iran has launched missiles at Israel and Gulf nations shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei was named as the successor to his late father, marking a new phase of the Middle East conflict despite warnings from the US and Israel.
In early March 2026, Iran launched a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and Gulf nations. This military action occurred shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was appointed as the new supreme leader on March 8-9, 2026. The leadership transition followed the death of Ayatollah Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes at the start of the war, which also killed Mojtaba's wife Zahra Haddad-Adel. The Assembly of Experts, Iran's top clerical body, named Mojtaba Khamenei as successor despite his father's prior rejection of hereditary succession in 2024.
The missile attacks represent a new phase in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict that has seen multiple escalations since 2024. According to reports, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman since late February 2025, causing damage to U.S. assets, tourist sites, and energy infrastructure. These attacks on Gulf states have reportedly been more extensive than those against Israel, with nearly 200 ballistic missiles each targeting UAE and Kuwait.
Key Iranian officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian, the armed forces, judiciary, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei. The new leader, who wears the black turban signifying descent from Prophet Muhammad, is a cleric, Iran-Iraq War veteran, and was previously sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019 for his behind-the-scenes influence despite holding no formal government position. His appointment ensures hardline continuity in Iranian leadership.
International reactions have been strong, with Israel warning it would target Mojtaba Khamenei and his selectors, and U.S. President Donald Trump claiming a new Iranian leader needs his approval to "last long." The conflict has caused significant casualties, with at least 1,230 deaths in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel as of March 2026. Gulf states have intercepted Iranian projectiles and shared intelligence with Israel and the U.S. during defenses, deepening security ties against the shared Iranian threat while balancing engagement with Tehran.
The Philippine news coverage from ABS-CBN, GMA, and Inquirer focuses on the economic fallout of the Middle East tensions, reporting panic buying at fuel pumps, government requests for emergency powers to cut fuel excise taxes, repatriation of OFWs from the region, Philippine Stock Exchange crashes, and Metro Manila LGUs adopting 4-day workweeks for energy conservation. President Marcos Jr. has been pushing for Middle East peace at UN Headquarters amid the escalating crisis that continues to threaten regional stability and global energy markets.
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